Rudder

ABSTRACT

A RUDDER SYSTEM IS PROVIDED WHEREIN THE RUDDER IS COMPRISED OF AN UPPER AND LOWER SECTION EACH OF WHICH MAY BE OPERATED INDIVIDUALLY OR IN CONCERT WITH EACH OTHER.

United States Patent Office 3,606,852 RUDDER Thomas Cafiero, StoneleighRoad, Scarsdale, N.Y. 10583 Filed Jan. 27, 1970, Ser. No. 6,142 Int. Cl.B63h 25/06 US. Cl. 114-163 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A ruddersystem is provided wherein the rudder is comprised of an upper and lowersection each of which may be operated individually or in concert witheach other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a rudder systemand more particularly to a dual rudder having two distinct sectionswhich may be employed either individually or in concert so as to providethe necessary control without inhibiting the speed of a craft. Theinvention may be used on any ship or vessel but it is primarily intendedfor use in connection with sailboats.

The rudder area needed to controla sailboat varies according to themaneuver being performed. For instance, when steering to windward only asmall rudder is required to control the boat but when steering on hardreaches or tacking, a rudder having a considerably greater area isnecessary in order to effect the desired turns.

' Heretofore, sailboats have been provided with rudders which could notadjust to the varying needs of the boat. As a result, a full rudderwould be unnecessarily employed when steering to windward, etc. andspeed lost because of the rudders drag against the slip-stream of theboat. Rudders having two sections are known but both sections invariablyact in concert so that their effect on the boat is essentially the sameas that of a one piece rudder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention resolves these problemsby means of a rudder consisting essentially of upper and lower sectionswhich may be operated individually or in concert. The upper or trimsection of the rudder preferably has an area somewhat smaller than thelower section so that the least amount of drag will-be encounteredduring those times when a full rudder is not necessary. The area of bothsections of the rudder will be determined to some extent by the size ofthe boat to which it is attached.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a sketch, partly insection, of the dual rudder and operating mechanism of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational cross-section view of the bolt lockingmechanism shown in FIG. 1 which permits both upper and lower sections ofthe rudder to act in concert.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the bolt locking mechanism shown in FIG. 2along lines 33.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a rudder, generallydesignated 1, mounted on the skeg portion 2 of the sailboat. The rudderis shown as comprising two parts; an upper or trim section 3 and a loweror main section 4. Each of these sections is adapted so that they mayact individually or in concert. The main rudder section 4 has an areaapproximately twice that of the trim section 3. The main section isfixedly secured to a main steering post 5 which is adapted for pivotalmovement around a vertical axis. Preferably, the main post 5 will haveits lower end pivotally mounted in a bracket 6 extending from the skeg 2of the boat. The main post 5 extends through the horn timbers 7 of3,606,852 Patented Sept. 21, 1971 the boat. A sprocket wheel 8 isfixedly attached to its upper end and keyed to sprocket wheels 9 and 10by a continuous drive chain 11. Sprocket 10 is fixedly positioned on thedistal end of steering column 12 on which main steering wheel 13 ismounted. Sprocket wheel 9 may be fixed in position by any suitablemeans, such as a cross-axle.

When the main steering wheel is moved the main rudder section isactivated by means of the drive chain and sprocket system.

The upper or trim section 14 is fixedly secured to ashaft 15 which isrotatably mounted in a sleeve-like relationship to the main post 5.Bushings 16 are provided in the opening in the horn timber so as toestablish bearings by which the shaft 15 is journaled for rotation onand about the axis of the post 5. The bushings are oppositely shoulderedas shown to secure against axial dis placement. A sprocket wheel 17 ismounted on the shaft 15 in perpendicular relationship and connected withsprocket wheels 18 and 19 by a continuous drive chain 20. Sprocket 19 isperpendicularly attached to the distal end of steering post 21 whichprojects from and is rotatably mounted in steering column 12. A trimsteering wheel 22 is provided as shown, connected to the end steeringpost 21 so that when turned it will cause activation of the trim sectionof the rudder by means of the chain drive and sprocket system.

When performing certain manuvers with the boat, such as tacking, etc. itwill be necessary to employ the full rudder rather than merely using thetrim section alone. In those instances, the rudder sections 3 and 4 willbe locked together by a locking means generally designated 22. Thelocking means is more clearly illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

In FIG. 2, a handle 23 is shown positioned in the bottorn portion of abinnacle 24. The handle is attached to a cable 25 which rides on pulleys26 and 27 and connects with the upper arm of a bell crank 28. Thepulleys 26 and 27 are attached to the structure of the boat by supportmeans 29 and 30, respectively. The bell crank 28 is secured to thestructure by support means 31 and is pivotably mounted thereon by a stud32. The lower end of the bell crank has a yoke configuration 33 which iskeyed to the flange portion of a floating collar 34. The floating collaris slideably mounted on the distal end of main steering post 5. Theflange portion of floating collar 34, which is opposite the yoke engagedportion, is fitted in a slot 35 in the head portion 36 of a pin 37. Thepin is biased by a spring 38 which is mounted on a flange 39 formed atthe middle of the pin and constrained by the top 40 of a housing unit41. The bottom portion of the pin, which is shown in the lockedposition, is slideably disposed in passageway 42 which extends throughsprocket wheel 8 into a hole 43 in sprocket wheel 17.

When the handle 23 is pulled the bell crank 28 pivots on stud 32 andcauses the floating collar 34 to slide up on main steering post 5. Thisupward action causes the distal end of the pin 37 to be moved away fromits seat in hole 43 and permits individual operation of the ruddersections. When disengaged from hole 43 the pin 37 will ride on the topof sprocket wheel 17. Alternatively, a catch may be provided to whichthe handle 23 may be hooked so as to insure that the pin 37 will remainretracted from the hole 43. When the rudder sections are aligned and,where applicable, the handle is disengaged from its catch, the pin 37will move downward into the hole 43 under the action of the spring 38.The two sections of the rudder will then be locked together and will actin concert. FIG. 3 shows a top plan view of FIG. 2. The drawing moreclearly illustrates the disposition of the locking pin 37 on sprocketwheel 8.

3 The flexibility offered by the present invention makes it ideal foruse on sailboats intended for racing. In cases where speed is importantthe unnecessary use of a full rudder, and resulting loss of speed, whensteering to windward, etc. is avoided by the individual use of the trimrudder.

While the rudder installation has been shown and described in detail, itis obvious that this invention is not to be considered as being limitedto the exact form dis closed, and that changes in detail andconstruction may be made therein within the scope of what is claimedwithout departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed is: 1. A rudder assembly comprising (a) a main ruddersection, (b) first mounting means for said main section, said mountingmeans being adapted so as to rotate about a vertical axis, (c) a trimrudder section in an upper position relative to said main section,

4 (d) second mounting means for said trim section, said second mountingmeans, being adapted so as to r0- tate around the vertical axis of saidfirst mounting means,

(e) steering means for said main and trim sections permitting individualoperation of said sections, and,

(f) locking means adapted so as to lock said main and trim sectionstogether substantially in alignment and permit their concerted action.

2. A rudder assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the area of said mainrudder is twice the area of said trim section.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 684,486 10/1901 Wces et a1114-167 2,597,189 5/1952 Sands 114167 ANDREW H. FARRELL, PrimaryExaminer

